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LCQ13: Traffic accidents involving public light bus drivers
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    Following is a question by the Hon Li Fung-ying and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, at the Legislative Council meeting today (December 5):

Question:

     Regarding traffic accidents caused by the negligence of drivers of public light buses ("PLBs"), will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the number of traffic accidents last year involving PLB drivers who were negligent, and the number of relevant cases of conviction in the past three years (together with a breakdown by the charge and penalty imposed); and

(b) whether the authorities will explore new counter-measures targeting at the accidents referred to in (a) to enhance PLB drivers' awareness of safe driving, with a view to preventing the recurrence of similar accidents; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) There is no definition for "negligence" in the existing legislation. "Negligence" is not an attributable factor to traffic offences under the legislation. When the Police handle traffic accidents or determine whether to prosecute the drivers involved in traffic accidents, they would only consider whether the drivers have contravened traffic regulations and the evidence on site. We therefore cannot provide traffic accident figures involving public light bus (PLB) drivers who were negligent and the relevant cases of convictions.

(b) Education is of vital importance in enhancing road safety awareness of PLB drivers. We will continue to implement and strengthen the following measures:

(i) encourage PLB operators, associations and unions to adopt the published "Code of Practise for Public Light Bus Drivers" and the "Guidelines for Picking up/Setting down Passengers for Public Light Bus Drivers" for training purposes so as to instill in PLB drivers a proper driving behaviour and an appropriate attitude, and to make the compliance of the code of practise and guidelines a service requirement;

(ii) publicise and disseminate road safety messages to PLB drivers and other professional drivers through road safety workshops, seminars, on-street educational activities, publicity bulletins and leaflets, as well as to update their contents regularly to tie in with the traffic accident and prosecution trends, and newly-implemented legislation or measures; and

(iii) organise "PLB Driver Training Course" and encourage active participation of drivers through PLB operators, associations and unions.

     Apart from the above, we plan to implement a new measure to require all drivers (including PLB drivers) who have committed serious traffic offences or are repeat traffic offenders to attend driving improvement courses on a mandatory basis. The measure will further improve driving behaviour, attitude and safety awareness through education. We plan to submit the relevant bill to the Legislative Council in early 2008.

Ends/Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Issued at HKT 14:46

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